Frequently Asked Questions

Graduation ceremonies will take place between Monday 1 and Friday 5 December 2025.

The ceremonies will be held in the Kings Hall, Armstrong Building. Ticket collection, degree certificate collection, gowning, photography, and the post-ceremony reception will be held on Campus.

You will have received an email if you are eligible to attend. If you have not received an email but believe you are eligible to attend, please contact the congregations office.

If you are unable your certificate will be sent to your home address. If you have not provided an up to date address, please contact the congregations office.

You can also defer your ceremony until July 2026. To do so, please contact the congregations office.

If you have or intend to appeal, you must inform us by contacting the congregations office so we can update your record accordingly.

If you have applied to resit please inform the congregations office.

Yes, if you are unable to attend in December, you can defer your graduation to July 2026, these will take place between 6 to 17 July 2026.  If you wish to defer your graduation, please contact the congregations office.

To be eligible to graduate at these ceremonies, you must complete your course and appear on a pass list by Wednesday 12 November.

If you have debts to the University, these must be reduced to under £100 by 12 November in order to attend your ceremony and must be cleared completely for you to receive your certificate.

If you still think you are eligible and have not applied to attend already, please contact the congregations office.

If you need an invitation letter to your ceremony, to support a visa application for you or your guests, complete the visa letter request form.

You will receive your degree certificate from the ticket desk on the day of your graduation. You will not need your certificate for any part of the ceremony.

You do not need to bring your certificate with you. You will not need your certificate for any part of the day.

You will have received an email if you are eligible to attend, if you have not received an email, please contact the congregations office.

Your graduate ticket and up to two guest tickets are free of charge.

If extra tickets are available, an email will be sent (to graduates/students attending a ceremony) in late October with how to apply for extra tickets. The information will also be updated on the Extra tickets page.

Seating will be allocated at the ticket desk for yourself and your guests. If tickets are booked at different times, all your guest tickets will still be received together and sat together.

If you would like separate seating for your guests, please ask at the ticket desk.

Although we wish to make congregations as welcoming and inclusive as possible, the formal nature and duration of the ceremonies may make them unsuitable for babies and young children. Due to fire regulations, please be aware that children over two years old require a guest ticket. Infants under 2 years old can attend without a ticket, and must be sat on the lap of an adult guest who has a ticket. 

For any guests who are unable to attend, the ceremonies will be available to view live on our website. A recording of the ceremony will also be available to view on demand soon after the ceremony.

The graduate will collect all the tickets from the ticket desk on the day of graduation, it is the graduate’s responsibility to share their tickets with their guests. The graduate must bring ID with them to collect their tickets.

The Congregations team will email the students/graduates with a form to fill in, to confirm any access needs for themselves and/or their guests. We require the response by 17 November to ensure adjustments can be arranged.

If any details change between 18 November and your ceremony date, please contact the congregations office urgently with any access requirements. 

Please be aware we can only guarantee on-campus parking to blue badge holders who have requested this in advance. 

All graduates are strongly recommended to wear the official Newcastle University Gown and Hood for the ceremony.

Gown hire is open from Monday 13th October and will be available until Friday 21st November. We recommend ordering your gown in advance. Place your order directly with Gray & Son of Durham.

Hire is for one day only and charges are as follows:

Non-Degree Qualifications (Diplomas and Certificates) = £44
Undergraduate Degrees = £44
Postgraduate Masters Degrees = £49
Doctorates = £54

If you miss the booking window, you can hire your gown on the day. Please note hire purchases on the day will be CASH ONLY.

Most Academic dress (PDF: 668.5 kB) at Newcastle University does not include a mortar board, by tradition.

The story goes that when Newcastle became an independent university in 1963, students celebrated freedom by throwing their traditional hats into the River Tyne. Since then, Newcastle University academic dress has not included a mortar board.

Although the Congregation ceremonies represent a chance to celebrate your achievements, they are also traditional formal events. You are encouraged to dress accordingly. We advise candidates to wear a light coloured shirt or blouse with dark trousers or a skirt. A buttoned shirt or blouse is recommended as there is a loop on the academic hood which can be affixed over a button. Alternatively, you may wish to bring a safety pin to help hold the hood in place.

Traditional and national dress is encouraged. All attendees are also advised to dress in a manner appropriate to the weather, noting that there may be queues outside the Congregations venues.

See here for the style and colour of your Academic dress (PDF: 668.5 kB).

Gown hire is available to book prior to your ceremony; it is advisable to book in advance to ensure the correct size and style is available. Book your gown with our official robemakers, Gray & Son of Durham, from Monday 13th October to Friday 21st November.

If you miss the booking window, you can hire your gown on the day. Please note hire purchases on the day will be CASH ONLY. This will be from the Bamburgh Room, Hadrian Building.

Please contact Gray & Son of Durham who will be able to refund your gown hire.

Hired gowns will be available to collect from the campus on the day of your ceremony, from Bamburgh Room, Hadrian Building.

Hired gowns must be returned on the day of your ceremony. Return them to the Bamburgh Room, Hadrian Building.

Thursday 4th Dec ceremonies - gown must be returned before 15:00.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday ceremonies - gowns must be returned before 18:00.

Pre-booking is not possible. Simply drop in to Level 1 King's Gate for your photography proofs, and then purchase online after your graduation via Tempest Photography.

Last entries to the studios will be 30 minutes before the last gown return time.

Please see the Tempest photography website, where you can view the packages available. Click 'not had your graduation yet' and enter your details.

You should arrive 90 minutes before your ceremony:

1. Register and collect all tickets and your certificate 
2. Collect your gown 
3. Graduates will be admitted 30 minutes before the ceremony begins. Guests will be admitted 20 minutes before the ceremony begins. Guests enter through a different entrance so ensure you have given your guests their tickets before you enter the hall.

Your ceremony will last approximately 45 minutes, with the exception of honorary ceremonies which can last up to 75 minutes.

After your ceremony
4. Attend the reception. This will last for 45 minutes, straight after your ceremony.

Anytime during the day
5. Visit the professional photography studios. You do not need a booking, pop by Level 1 King's Gate for your proofs, then you can order online afterwards.

Before you leave

Return your gown.

*Only graduates can collect tickets. Bring your Student ID (or other photographic ID)

We do not have a cloakroom or anywhere to store items of luggage. Please do not bring any large items.

Car parking is unfortunately not available on campus*, but there are many car parks within walking distance. Please see the city and campus map.

 *except for blue badge holders and must be arranged in advance with the Congregations Office

Live Screening is a lecture theatre within the same building as the ceremony venue (Armstrong Building) where guests will be able to enjoy the live streaming of the ceremony on a large screen. The theatre is on the second floor of the Armstrong Building.